The last episode of the series about New York City firemen -- timed for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that helped shape it -- demonstrated the series' characteristic ability to blend comedy, tragedy, laughs, and tears.

Leary and co-creator Peter Tolan had been tight-lipped about the finale, titled "Ashes," and had hinted only that a major fire would leave one of Leary's onscreen friends and colleagues dead. After an opening sequence that had John Scurti's character, Lt. Kenneth "Lou" Shea, eulogizing Leary's Tommy Gavin and the rest of his team, it turned out to be a dream and viewers learned it was Lou who died.

Ultimately, Leary's Gavin finds himself able to mourn yet another of his friends -- without falling off the wagon, and without retiring from the FDNY, as he'd been hinting he would throughout the season. The series ended with Gavin opening up about 9/11 with a group of new recruits, and a solemn pan up to the New York City skyline, which is now without the Twin Towers.